2025 PASSAIC COUNTY TOURNAMENT FINAL
BRACKET
Saturday, May 10, at Wayne Valley
3-West Milford (7-7) at 1-Wayne Valley (4-8), 2 p.m.
Title History
Wayne Valley has 6 titles, including the last two; West Milford won its only title in 2022
Final Appearances
This is Wayne Valley’s 9th; this is West Milford’s 5th.
Head-to-Head in Final
Wayne Valley won in 2016, 2023 and ‘24. In last year’s final, Wayne Valley bolted to an eight-goal lead in the first half on the way to an 11-5 victory. Current junior Brayden Dunne led the way with five goals, 2025 grad Ryan Schmitz contributed three goals and three assists, and current senior Michael Burke recorded four assists. Current West Milford senior Jake Kelshaw collected one goal and two assists and he won 9-of-17 at the faceoff X.
How they got here:
Wayne Valley: Defeated 9-seed Eastern Christian in the quarterfinals, 23-1; defeated 4-seed DePaul in the semifinals, 13-7.
West Milford: Defeated 6-seed Pompton Lakes in the quarterfinals, 15-3; defeated 2-seed Wayne Hills in the semifinals, 7-6
Players to watch:
Wayne Valley: Brayden Rude, Jr., A (23G, 14A); Brayden Dunne, Jr., A (25G, 10A); Nick Rubino, Sr., M (9G, 26A); Rocco Destefano, Sr., A/M/FO (3G, 4A, 110-of-180); Logan Custance, Sr., M (23G, 2A); Max Prekal, Jr., D (2A, 45GB); Michael Grochola, So., D (20GB); Dylan Belot, Jr., G (.462 save percent.); Nate Askinazi, Jr., D (18GB); Grey Wolford. So., D (11GB).
West Milford: Vincent D’Andrea, Sr., A (27G, 9A); Tyler Acanfrio, Jr., G Max Gorny, Sr., M (22G, 10A); Brendan Coscia, So., M/FO (1G, 1A, 109-of-185); (.652 save percent.); Mark Schinasi, Jr., D (1A, 36GB); Jacob Price, Jr., DM (1G, 1A, 28FGB); Jake Kelshaw, Sr., M (15G, 16A); Cole Riley, So., M (14G, 9A); Pat Foley, Jr., D (24GB); Will Weiss, Jr., D (14GB); Sean Lombardo, So., A (11G, 4A); Stephen Dellagicoma, Jr., D (29GB); Jeffrey Papienuk, Jr., DM (18GB).
Key factor: Could it be D’Andrea bookends?
Vincent D’Andrea had earned significant playing time as a versatile freshman attackman three years ago as a freshman, and his contributions wound up speaking volumes.
He emerged as one of the big surprises of the entire NJILL freshman class with 36 goals and 12 assists, with one of those assists coming in the Highlanders’ 4-3 victory over Wayne Hills in the PCT final. That was West Milford’s only county championship, though it reached the final again in 2023 and ’24.
D’Andrea and senior middies Max Gorny and Jake Kelshaw now lead an otherwise sophomore-oriented offense that just may be experienced and composed enough to earn a second title.
The Highlanders have won four of their last six games, one of which was a 9-8 overtime triumph over Wayne Valley May 1.
Those sophomores showed clutch tendencies that day as Ryan Czeczuga struck for three goals and one assist, Dean Lombardo scored twice, and Brendan Coscia won 9-of-18 at the faceoff X. Kelshaw led the senior-class contributions with two goals and one assist and D’Andrea had one goal and one assist.
Wayne Valley would be wise to not view D’Andrea’s relatively conservative scoring output as a pattern. He netted two goals in last year’s final and had West Milford’s only goal in its 7-1 loss to Wayne Valley in the 2023 final.
Wayne Valley also has won three of its last four games and has obviously displayed a knack for performing at its best in this game. The team was 7-12 last year, yet was masterful on either side of the ball in that 11-5 championship game.
The Pick: West Milford
Mike Kinney can be reached at [email protected].
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